Hopeful Ohio sportsbook licensees now have the chance to give input on two draft applications before they are finalized.
The Ohio Casino Control Commission released draft applications for Type A&B proprietors and management services providers Monday morning. Public comment will be open through 5 pm Eastern this Friday.
There is still a lot of procedural work to be done before Ohio sports betting can launch. The application period should open in late summer or fall, as the market must be live by Jan. 1, 2023.
Ohio sports betting application details
Both applications are pretty simple but they ask some interesting questions. The applications ask about any agreements already made with either a sportsbook operator or the Ohio-based licensee, and to explain why an agreement has not been signed yet if that is the case.
There are already a couple of notable partnerships including Bally Bet and the NFL‘s Cleveland Browns, and both Caesars Sportsbook and Fubo partnering with the NBA‘s Cleveland Cavaliers.
The CCC also requests details of the three highest-value contracts the applying sports betting operator has entered into in the last 12 months.
Must explain second partnership
Ohio’s casinos and professional sports teams can partner with a second sports betting operator, but they must explain the economic benefit of a second partner:
- The additional actual or expected tax revenue to be generated by the second operator through a one-year forecast and three-year projection.
- Anticipated jobs created and capital investments to be made by the second partner.
- How the second agreement will not prevent any Type A-eligble licensee from securing its first betting partner. There is a maximum of four partnerships for each mobile sportsbook operator.
Not just Ohio residents waiting on launch
There are nearly 12 million people who live in Ohio, which makes it the seventh-biggest state in the US. That means the state should see decently sized handle pretty soon after launch, especially considering some out-of-staters will be drawn in too.
Ohio is nearly surrounded by legal US sports betting jurisdictions except on its southwestern border with Kentucky. The Bluegrass State saw sports betting legislation progress farther than ever before this year but it did not pass the Senate.
To make matters worse for Kentucky bettors, the state holds a shortened legislative session in odd-numbered years. That means it could be 2025 before the first KY sportsbooks can launch in the state.
